Pressure Cooked Collards with Bacon and Garlic Scapes


These were absolutely divine.  I have never had a bunch of collard greens devoured so quickly in my house. Why?  Because bacon- a very worthwhile use of bacon.  

If you have an instant pot or a pressure cooker, you’ll be happy to know that you can bring this one to the table in 30 minutes.  Let’s get to it:

Snip your collards from their ribs with kitchen scissors, then snip them into bite-sized pieces.

Brown your bite-sized bacon in your instant pot or electric pressure cooker, if you have one.  If not, crisp it up on the stove before transferring it (and all the fat, yes, that’s the good part) into your pressure cooker. 

Next toss your collards with all that sumptuous bacon.
Toss in your garlic scapes, if you have some.  They are incredible in this dish. TroMix it all up, set your pressure cooker to 20 minutes, and set the table.Get ready to serve your skeptics!
It has a lovely flavor.  I’m not sure if you’d want to put a tiny bit of onion or garlic in this in place of the scapes, but you can give it a try, or just omit the scapes entirely (though I don’t recommend it, they are delicious).  I hope you like this one!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 8 slices Springdell Bacon, cut into bite-sized pieces (1 inch is good)
  • 1 bunch collard greens (you can even do 2 bunches) ribs removed and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1/2 cup water or ham hock stock
  • 1 bunch garlic scapes, snipped into bite-sized pieces
  • kosher salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Place the bacon into your instant pot and cook until crisp.
  2. Add collards and scapes, stirring to coat with the bacon fat.  Add a sprinkle of salt and your liquid, giving another stir.  
  3. Pressure cook on high for 20 minutes (about five minutes less if working with a stove-top pressure cooker).  Quick release the pressure when done).
  4. Carefully remove the lid, season to taste and serve!

Cider vinegar or hot sauce are nice accompaniments, but my family ate it all as-is. Enjoy!


About Jess

Jess Anderson is the creator of CSA|365 and is passionate about the local food movement. A long time member of Springdell and a busy mother of two, Jess loves keeping her family fed by honest local food.